Forsaken Daughter Pampered by Top Hier

15:19 Mon, 10 Mar M

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Flashes of this year’s birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

The Harts? Chris? They were all off in Europe with Olivia.

Not one text. Not one call.

Forgotten? Not a chance.

She and Olivia had the same birthday–they knew. They just didn’t care.

That part didn’t sting anymore. What stuck in her head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to sign the disownment

papers.

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian’s voice pulled her back.

Stephanie shook her head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday was worth celebrating.”

Ever since she left the Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

Before she could say anything else, Sebastian pulled her straight into his arms.

His heartbeat was right there under her cheek–strong, steady, and grounding.

His voice dropped low, rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off again?”

Her eyes burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No. Never again.”

The Casalinis were already wiped off the map. She had no reason to run anymore.

Sebastian held her tighter, like she might disappear if he let go.

“Sorry, Seb.” Her arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against his chest.

He didn’t answer, just smoothed a hand over her hair, fingers sliding through gently.

She had nothing to be sorry for. Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires left and right.

He barely had a second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the cracks.

By the time Stephanie made it back to the office, a good thirty minutes had passed.

Jennifer’s eyes zeroed in on the necklace the second Stephanie walked in.

“Hold up–boss, where the hell did you get that? It looks… Weirdly familiar.”

“Sicily Sunrise,” Stephanie said casually.

Jennifer’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”

That diamond wasn’t just expensive–it was a legend.

Auctioned for over 30 million dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over it–and Stephanie was just wearing it?

1/2

15:19 Mon, 10 Mar

Chapter 149

even if they

It could only

bome from him.

face and raised a brow. “So? Does

was almost

Of course

still here?”

before it

heard that, her smile disappeared like it was never

***

、 87%L

+5

office, Catlin was already sitting there, her forced patience barely

the cracks were showing. Hearing the door open, she tried to pull herself together, plastering on

you? I’ve been waiting forever. Your assistant called you three times, but you didn’t even pick up.”

was obvious irritation in her voice–along with a trace of

Stephanie these days, Catlin had resorted to using half the phones at

Cold–blooded? Heartless? Catlin had never

her feet, she planned to have

kind of parenting turned

onto the desk, zero interest in small talk. “Alright, what do you want?”

Olivia, she couldn’t imagine why Catlin was even here.

necklace she was wearing, sending bright flecks of

was impossible to miss. Her

Mon, 10 Mar

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

her like a slideshow–the silence, the

were all off in Europe

text. Not

Not a chance.

had the same birthday–they knew. They just didn’t

her head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to

papers.

wrong?” Sebastian’s voice pulled her back.

Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday

since she left the Giovannis,

anything else, Sebastian pulled her straight into his arms.

under her cheek–strong,

rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off

burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No. Never again.”

map. She had no reason to

like she might disappear if he let go.

his waist, face buried

just smoothed a hand over

Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out

look her way–that’s how the

made it back to the office, a good

eyes zeroed in on the necklace

the hell did you get that? It looks…

Stephanie said casually.

“Are you kidding

diamond wasn’t just expensive–it was

over 30 million dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over

1/2